Shank stiffener



H. GORDON SHANK STIFFENER Filed OCT.. 10, 1.9356

Hiram 'ordola Patented Nov. 16, 19374 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFICE sHANK STIFFENER Hiram Gordon, Columbus, Ohio, assigner to The Walker T. Dickerson Company, Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio This invention relates to shank stiffeners adapted for use in the arch construction of shoes or other articles of footwear, Vand the object of the invention resides in the provision of an improved shank stiffener comprising an integral blank of sheet metal which may be readily inserted in theV arch of a shoe to maintain the desired form and shape thereof and to comfortably support and protect the foot of the wearer.

f Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a shank stiffener which while sufficiently flexible to provide for comfortin the use of the shoes in which it is incorporated is formed with a novel reenforcement by which the 15 mechanical strength of the stiffener is materially increased in order to avoid breakage or injury thereto when in use. Y

For a further understanding of the invention, reference is to be had to the followingdescrip- 20 tion and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe shank stiffener constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Y o5 Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through the arch of a shoe and disclosing the stiffener in its applied or operative position between the insole and outsole of the shoe;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectionalV view on '30 the line IV-IV of Fig. 3; Y

Fig. 5 is a similar View on the plane indicatedV by the line V-V of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates the shank stiifener compris- `35 ing the present invention, the same being formed from one integral piece of sheet metal, preferably steel, and of a length and width adapting it for the type of shoes with which'v it will be used. In the present instance, the stiffener is of considerably 40 greater width than conventional types of stiffeners and, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, is of such width as to have its longitudinal edge portions disposed substantially in engagement with the down-turned ribs 2 of a shoe in- 45 sole 3, the stiffener being disposed in the recess or cavity 4 formed between the bottom of the insole, the inner side walls of the ribs 2 and the upper surface of the outsole 5. Preferably, the stiiener is of such length as to extendV throughout the 50 full length of the arch of the shoe from the heel 6 thereof to the forward portion of the outsole. The rear end of the shank stifrfener is aperr tured as at 1 to provide for the passage of customary fastening devices through the heel region of 55 a shoe and, generally, the stiffener is of approximately the same width throughout the major portion of the length thereof, except that at its forward or lower end, the same is slightly enlarged or flared to provide a cushion-receiving seat 8 or to enter the composition filler 9 usually employed 5 between the insole and outsole at the forward end of the shoe.

lin its vertical longitudinal cross section, the shank stiffener conforms substantially to the desired curvature of the arch of the shoe and like- 10* wise in transverse section, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, the stiff/ener is slightly concave to accord with the normal transverse curvature of the shoe Y insole and outsole in the arch region of the shoe.

vBy this construction, the stiifener provides a substantial metallic support in the arch region of the shoe to preserve the shape of the latter as well as increasing the comfort of the wearer by holding the footin a supported manner.

Another feature resides in reenforcing the stifl fener to prevent breakage thereof by stamping the stiffener and the rigidity of the shoe arch in which the stiifener is incorporated. Moreover, this is Y accomplished without any substantial increase in weight on the part of the stiffener or the manufacturing costs thereof.

The arrangement of the ribs is such as to enable the stiffener to withstand without breakage thel complex stresses and forces applied to the same when the shoe is in use, thus providing a shoe which will retain its shape and comfort after prolonged periods of service. By its construction, 40 the stiffener is firmly retained in its operative position between the insole and outsole and accidental shifting of the same from such position is precluded. v

What is claimed is:v n Y 1. A metallic arch reenforcing member for shoes comprising a sheet metal stamping formed to con.-Y stitute a longitudinally arched metallic body extending from the heel to the metatarsal areas of a shoe, the heel end of said member being substantially fiat and apertured and the forward.V metatarsal portion of said member terminating in a flattened and transversely enlarged extension, said member between the heel and metatarsal ends thereof being provided with a single centralsion, said member between the heel and metatarsal ends thereof being provided with a single centrally disposed longitudinally extending reenforcing rib and at each side of said rib with a pair of shorter diagonally extending reenforcing ribs having overlapping ends, the side edges of said member being positioned immediately adjacent and conforming to the configuration of the side Walls of the shoe cavity in which the said metallic member is positioned.

HIRAM GORDON. 

